Page:Every Woman's Encyclopedia Volume 1.djvu/353

 331 CHILDREN This section tells everything that a mother ought to know and everyth ing she should teach her 1 children. It will contain articles dealing with the whole of a child's life from infancy to womanhood, j A few of the subjects are here mentioned : 1 The Baby Education Physical Training Amusements Clothes How to Engage a Use of Clubs How to Arrange a Hoiv to Engage a Private Governess Dwnb-bells Children's Party Nurse English Schools for Developers Outdoor Games Preparing for Bahy Girls Chest Expanders Indoor Games Motherhood Foreign Schools and Exercises Without How to Choose Toys What Every Mother Convents Apparatus for Children Should Kno7v, etc. Exchange with Foreign Breathing Exercises The Selection of Story Families for learning Skipping, Books, languages^ etc. etc. etc. BABY'S BATH By LILIAN WHITLING, Official Examiner, Training Schools of Domestic Subjects How Often, "When and Where to Bathe Baby — The Bath — ^The Water — ^The Soap — The Sponge — Dusting Powder — Temperature of Water — Thermometer — Washing and Drying Baby — The Mouth, Eyes, Ears, and Final Massage Daby's toilet is a very important ceremonial, to the experienced nurse and mother, cause ao small anxiety to the novice, and infinite discomfort, and even danger to the child if mismanaged. How Often to Bathe Children Except for some special reason, such as illness or unusually hot weather, one bath a day is sufficient. Like everything else, " tubbing " can be overdone ; when it is it becomes weaken- ing. The daily bath should, however, never be omitted unless by doctor's orders. When to Give the Bath Except in the case of infants, there are two reasons why it is an advantage to bathe children at night. First, baths have a soothing effect and promote sleep ; and secondly, they ensure children going to bed with the hundreds of thousands of pores of the skin clear and free from dust and perspiration, after romping about all day. Some careless nurses put their little charges to bed with merely a quick sponge of face and hands, neglecting legs and feet altogether. It is sometimes advisable to consult a medical man who has had opportunities of observing the health of a particular child as to the best time for, and temperature of the bath. When infants are not actually bathed, they should have a quick all-over sponging. During the heat of summer, especially in hot countries abroad, children get tired and peevish, and a bath or sponge over, with cool water at about 70° F., will be found very soothing and refreshing, especially if a rounded tcaspoonful of bi-carbonate of soda be added to each quart of water. Those who have charge of children should bear two points in mind : 1. That bathing is a powerful agent in main- taining and restoring health. 2. That baths must be quick and efficient, no playing and dawdling being allowed. The Room The room must be w^arm and free from draughts, and for quite small babies let there be a bright fire, imless the weather is exceedingly hot. Babies are chilly little mortals, and love, after their dip, to kick about and warm themselves in the cheerful glow. Put a screen round the chair and bath, and never permit people to keep coming in and out while baby is undressed. Many cases of infantile rheumatism, with conse- quent heart trouble, have been caused by cold air striking on the child during, or just after, his bath. Many careful nurses for this reason invariably lock the nursery door. Have every- thing needful close at hand before undressing the child, for it makes an inexperienced nurse flurried to find the towels, soap, or other im- portant items missing at the critical moment, especially if baby is cross and exercising his lungs.
 * -' the details of which, though perfectly simple